The new prime minister of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai is in the hospital and his wife is dead, after their car collided with a truck south of the capital, Harare.

Officials from his party, the Movement for Democratic Change, say the prime minister is in stable condition after the crash near the town of Beatrice. The condition of the other passengers in the car, an aide and a driver, was not immediately known.

Susan Tsvangirai was 50. Mr. Tsvangirai turns 57 next week.

Britain's Foreign Office said it was deeply saddened and that it was monitoring the situation closely. Britain is the former colonial power.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe visited the hospital where the prime minister -- a long-time rival -- is being treated. Mr. Mugabe did not speak to reporters.

Mr. Mugabe and Mr. Tsvangirai joined forces in a power-sharing government last month under intense pressure from regional leaders to end the nation's political and economic crisis following violence-marred elections last year.